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The Picture of Dorian Gray
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-82-1
Lexile® Rating: 700L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 4.8 what is this?
F&P Level: Z what is this?
£6.99
‘I believe the only way to live, is to be true to oneself. The only way to get rid of temptation is to give into it.’
Young, rich and handsome, Dorian Gray seems to have it all. So why do people who were once his friends leave the room when he enters? Can there really be any truth in the dark tales that are told about him? And why does he keep his portrait locked away in an attic room?
Two men hold the answer to Dorian’s secret. One is the artist, Basil Hallward, who paints Dorian’s portrait. The other is Lord Henry Wotton, who convinces the impressionable Dorian that youth and pleasure are the only things worth living for.
Is Dorian Gray really as innocent as he seems? Can love and friendship save him from himself? Or will the secret of the picture of Dorian Gray be a secret he takes to his grave?
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My Brilliant Career
This was my life, my career, my brilliant career!
Sybylla Melvyn yearns for a life in the arts. She loves music and is determined to write a book. But as the daughter of a poor dairy farmer, she despairs of ever realising her ambitions.
Then comes the opportunity for Sybylla to go and live with wealthy relatives. In her new home she tastes a life of culture and refinement. She also meets handsome, rich Harold Beecham, who offers her a future most young women would dream of. But Sybylla is torn between a comfortable married life and the career she craves.
Will Harold win her over? How will Sybylla live with the choice she makes?
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Seven Little Australians
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-84-5
£6.99
A word of warning – if you are expecting to read a story about model children, you’d better read something else. Not one of the seven children in this story is truly good – Australian children never are.
The Woolcot children enjoy a life of fun and adventure in their rambling riverside home, despite frequent reprimands from their strict father, Captain Woolcot.
However, when one of Judy’s escapades tests the Captain’s patience to the limit, he decides that extreme measures are called for and sends her away to boarding school. But this leads to consequences not even he could anticipate. How will the headstrong Judy respond to her punishment? And how will this family recover from the disaster that strikes them?
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Gulliver’s Travels
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-85-2
£6.99
An amazing sight met my eyes. All around me were dozens of human creatures a little less than six inches high, chattering together in high-pitched voices in a strange language.
When Lemuel Gulliver is shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean, it’s the start of a series of adventures stranger than he could possibly have imagined. After the tiny inhabitants of Lilliput become suspicious of Gulliver, they plan to kill their huge visitor. What deadly scheme do they come up with?
Gulliver makes a friend in the land of the giants - Glumdalclitch, a nine year old girl. Can she protect him from the frightening creatures in Brobdingnag?
Once he has said goodbye to the peculiar scientists in their flying island, Gulliver discovers the fierce and brutal Yahoos. Will he ever return home safely to his wife and family in England?
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Gawain and the Green Knight
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-86-9
£6.99
A horrific apparition interrupts the Christmas festivities at King Arthur’s Camelot.
A green giant throws down a deadly challenge: one of the gathering must cut off his head, after which he will return the favour in a year’s time! King Arthur must accept this challenge or appear a coward, but it’s left to young Sir Gawain to act.
Gawain chops off the giant’s head and, horror of horrors, the giant strides over to pick up his head, which then begins to speak. He holds Sir Gawain to his promise, and rides off into the wintry night.
A year passes and Gawain sets off with terrible dread to find the Green Knight and keep to his side of the bargain. Can he avoid his certain doom?
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Egil’s Saga
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-87-6
£6.99
Is it really possible to become famous throughout your country and beyond both as a fearless warrior and as a renowned poet?
Egil Skallagrimsson lived in Iceland a thousand years ago, and this is the story of his long and violent life. He could compose beautiful poetry, but he was also capable of staggering brutality.
Can Egil successfully avenge his father’s exile from Norway, defend his honour against the Norwegian King Erik Bloodaxe, and support the English King Athelstan in his battles against the Scots?
When his travels finally find him at home again in Iceland, how will Egil feel about his family - his loving wife Asgerd, the brother he lost in battle, and his dead sons? And what will he do with his two chests of silver?
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My Experiments with Truth
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-88-3
£6.99
‘Get out!’ the official said, ‘or I will get a constable to push you out!’ ‘Do that,’ I said. ‘I will not get off the train!’
Mahatma Gandhi is best known as the father of the Indian nation and a charismatic leader in the fight for justice for all. But who was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and what made him the phenomenon he became? Born into a middle class family, Gandhi’s thirst for truth was evident from an early age, and his insistence on speaking and living his truth often got him into trouble.
Why did it matter so much to him not to cheat at school, to stand up to officials who told him what he could and could not do, to fight relentlessly for the rights of the poor and those with little power over their own lives?
What was it about Gandhi’s life and experiences that brought him to the clear understanding that love and non-violence are the best weapons in any struggle?
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Aladdin and his Magic Lamp
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-00-4
£6.99
As soon as Aladdin started cleaning the lamp there was a sound like a clap of thunder. A swirling cloud of smoke filled the room, changing until it formed the outline of a huge green figure.
Aladdin and his mother live a poor and humble life. Then one day Aladdin meets his long-lost uncle, and his life is changed for ever. Can his new friend be trusted?
When Aladdin persuades the Sultan to let him marry the beautiful Princess Badroulbadour, he thinks his happiness is complete. But what will the Sultan’s Vizier do now that his own son’s chances of marrying the Princess are doomed to failure?
It seems that Aladdin’s beloved Princess has been lost forever when he angers the evil sorcerer. Can Aladdin think of a way to bring his wife and his elderly mother back to safety?
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Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-01-1
£6.99
The horsemen stopped close to where Ali Baba was hiding. He could scarcely breathe. As they dismounted he counted them – there were forty in all, and they were carrying bags of gold, silver and precious stones.
When Ali Baba goes into the forest as usual to gather wood to sell, he can hardly imagine that it is the start of an amazing adventure that will change his life.
After he discovers the secret of the treasure cave, his good fortune soon turns into terrible danger. Can he ever live safely again with his wife and family?
Ali Baba’s brother Cassim is a rich man, but cares little for the happiness of others. Where will his selfishness lead him?
Morgiana, the servant girl, is faced with a deadly crisis. Is she clever and brave enough to save herself and Ali Baba’s family from destruction?
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Sindbad the Sailor
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-02-8
£6.99
A great roaring came from the mouth of the cave and to our horror we saw an enormous giant striding towards us. His skin was a sickly green, and his eyes burned red like fiery coals.
Sindbad makes an enormous fortune from his voyages, but he cannot resist joining further dangerous expeditions to far off lands. Will anything persuade him to remain at home in Baghdad?
When Sindbad finds himself in the valley of huge serpents, there seems no way out. What clever plan does he use to escape?
How can Sindbad and his friends possibly survive when they are trapped by a gigantic monster who seems determined to cook and eat each of them in turn?
The Old Man of the Sea is weak and feeble, and asks for Sindbad’s help. But can he be trusted?
After Sindbad marries for the first time, tragedy strikes when his wife falls sick and dies. When he finds a second bride, will they ever find happiness together?
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South
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-03-5
£6.99
At 5 o’clock on the evening of November 21st, after the ice had drawn back like pall bearers at a funeral, Endurance slipped lower in the water, her stern pointing skywards. We stood in silence while she said her last farewell. A cacophony of cracking timber and rushing water signalled her end and then she was silent, slipping into the watery grave. The bravest ship, she had struggled to the bitter end and now she was gone. Endurance – well named.
When his ship Endurance sinks in the icy Antarctic, Ernest Shackleton is left with the responsibility of getting his crew safely back home. Can they survive crossing dangerous icefloes and setting up camp on a remote island?
Even when they reach land nobody will know where they are unless somebody can sail the tiny ship’s boat across eight hundred miles of the world’s most dangerous seas to summon help. Can it be done?
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Anna Karenina
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-04-2
£6.99
A guard had stepped back into the path of a train and been crushed beneath the wheels. He had been killed instantly.
When Anna Karenina arrives at the scene of a horrible accident, it is the beginning of a new and troubling time in her life. Will she ever find happiness with the man she loves? Anna’s sister-in-law, Darya Oblonsky, is threatening to leave her selfish husband. Is Anna able to save their marriage?
Anna’s young son, Sergey, is sure that one day his mother will return to him. Can the pair ever be reunited?
Konstantin Levin is determined to marry Kitty, but she is dazzled by the lively and handsome Count Vronsky. Levin prefers a quiet life in the countryside to dinner parties and dances. Which of them will she finally choose?
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The Brothers Karamazov
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-05-9
£6.99
As Dimitry struck him Grigory screamed and fell back, the blood streaming horribly from his head. Dimitry bent over him, trying to stop the flow with his handkerchief which turned soaking red in an instant.
Alexey, Ivan and Dimitry Karamazov were sent away by their father Fyodor when they were very young, and never knew a father’s love. Now what will Dimitry’s bitter quarrel with Fyodor lead to?
Dimitry and his father both want to marry the beautiful Grushenka. Fyodor is old and ugly, but offers her wealth and security. Will she accept either of them, and if so, which?
The sickly, timid servant Smerdyakov confesses to a terrible crime. Is he telling the truth?
Can the deadly rivalry between father and son be settled peacefully, or must it end in tragedy?
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Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-06-6
£6.99
Clouds of multi–coloured fish rose from our feet like surprised birds from long grass. Every so often I caught a glimpse of the gleaming eyes of enormous crabs, their gigantic claws threatening to bar my path.
When Professor Aronnax and his two companions find themselves aboard the Nautilus they are amazed by the huge and powerful submarine and its mysterious owner, Captain Nemo. The three friends travel vast distances beneath the oceans, exploring an undersea realm full of excitement, discoveries and danger.
Captain Nemo seems to have some secret purpose. Why has he shut himself off from the world, and what are his plans for the Nautilus? The captain has told them that he can never leave his vessel. Will the Professor and his companions find a way to escape from their underwater prison?
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Journey to the Centre of the Earth
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-07-3
£6.99
Just beyond me on the rocky floor of the volcanic crater was the gaping vertical shaft which marked the starting point of our journey. As I gazed into its fearful depths my hair stood on end and my head swirled with dizziness.
Most scientists believed that the fierce heat and tremendous pressure would make a journey to the Earth’s centre impossible. When Professor Lindenbrock decides to prove them wrong it is the beginning of an amazing adventure, full of surprising discoveries and unpredictable threats.
When Axel – the Professor’s nephew – agrees to join his uncle’s expedition, he has no idea of the dangers which lie ahead of him. Can he and his companions survive their encounters with the strange creatures which inhabit the depths of the Earth, and will they ever return safely to their families and friends?
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Kidnapped
A bright flash of lightning lit up the darkness and showed me the horrible truth – the stairs came to a sudden stop, and if I had taken one more step I would have plunged to my death upon the flagstones far below.
When young David Balfour visits his uncle Ebenezer, he hopes for some good news about his inheritance. Instead he is kidnapped. Why do his enemies want to get rid of him?
After David makes friends with a Scottish soldier, Alan Breck Stewart, he discovers that Alan has rebelled against the King of England. David is a loyal subject of King George – so should he help his friend when he discovers that Alan’s life is in deadly danger?
David soon finds that he is a wanted man, hunted by the English redcoats. Can he escape from the wild and hazardous Highlands of Scotland before he is captured?
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Treasure Island
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-09-7
Lexile® Rating: 970L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 5.8 what is this?
£6.99
Dr Livesey opened up the folded paper. As he spread it out on the table in front of him, I gasped. Even a brief glimpse was enough to tell me it was a map of a small island – and a red cross had been drawn upon it, together with the words ‘The treasure lies here’.
After the discovery of the map young Jim Hawkins joins an expedition to the island with Dr Livesey and the squire. But who else knows the secret of the buried treasure?
Soon Jim and his companions find that they are in a desperate fight for survival with Captain Flint’s old shipmates, who are determined to kill everyone who stands between them and the hidden gold. Who is the peculiar man who lives on the island? Whose side is he on?
When Jim is separated from his friends, can he think of a way to outwit the pirates before they capture him?
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Nineteen Eighty-Four
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-10-3
Lexile® Rating: 900L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 5.6 what is this?
£6.99
If there is no word for freedom, how can anyone be free?
Winston Smith lives in a nightmare world where the Thought Police spy on everyone and children are taught to betray their parents. Even the smallest sign of disagreement with the Party results in torture, imprisonment, or death. Big Brother oversees everything – but who is he?
Winston tries hard to keep his thoughts and fears to himself. But then he meets Julia, a strong-minded young woman who is willing to run the terrible risk of their being found together. Will kindly Mr Charrington keep their secret? Can Winston and Julia find happiness despite the dangers that threaten them?
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A young reader's review for Real Reads Nineteen Eighty-Four :
This book is emotional, puzzling, surprising and intriguing. I liked this book because you never knew what was going to happen. The book is rhetorical and it makes you think.
The main character, Winston, thought he was safe but he found out that most of his friends were bad and had reported him to the thought police. Winston seemed to be the happiest when he was with other people like Julia and Mr Charrington. He was most worried and upset when he was alone and had time to think and reflect on his life and others.
I think it would be horrible to live a life that you can never have any privacy and for all your thoughts and words to be traced.
The information at the end of the book was useful. It gives a greater understanding of the history and the work George Orwell produced.
George, 10
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Animal Farm
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-11-0
Lexile® Rating: 940L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 5.7 what is this?
£6.99
All the animals were looking forward to the new, happy lives they would lead when Mr Jones’s rule over them came to an end.
When the animals get rid of Mr Jones and take over the farm, they are excited by their new freedom. But can they run the farm with tools that are designed for humans? Will they be able to harvest the food that they need for the winter?
The farmers decide to band together to win back the farm for Mr Jones. Will the animals be able to fight them off? Can life on Animal Farm be as wonderful as they had all hoped for – or will new dangers threaten their happiness?
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A young reader's review for Real Reads Animal Farm :
Animal farm is a really interesting, thought provoking story based on events that have happened in the past. The ideas in the story made me think about authority; what makes a good leader and whether it is important that the rules are the same for everyone. It was clever that animals were the main characters in the story not people. As the pigs became more like people they started to be more selfish and they did not care about the other animals and the group became less united.
I really liked the characters Boxer and Snowball. Boxer was hard working and never gave up but his hard work didn’t really help the other animals. Snowball tried to make the farm a better place but his ideas were over-ruled by Napoleon who was a stronger leader.
It was interesting to read the ‘Taking Things Further section’ about how the book was written about things that had happened in Russia. This taught me things about history that I did not know. After reading the story, it made it much easier to understand. It also made me think more carefully about some of the things that are happening at the moment. I would definitely recommend this book to other children my age. It is a brilliant story and very educational.
George, 10
Review from a Teacher :
The abridged version of Animal farm is a thoroughly enjoyable story for children. The adaption of the story would be a valuable text to study at Primary level as it provides an accessible opening to more mature themes such as authority, equality and inequality, class, power, control and corruption. Animal Farm would be a fantastic book to generate higher-level thinking, discussion and debate that could support the teaching of Literacy, RE, History, PSHE and Philosophy for Children.
Review from a Parent :
I enjoyed reading this book with my 10-year-old son. We were eager to see how the plights of the different characters would evolve. The story led to fantastic discussion about authority, equality, honesty and loyalty. My son was able to draw parallels between the story and religion, governance and current affairs. The ‘Taking Things Further’ section developed a thirst for more information which led him to conduct his own history research.
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